Quantum imprints left on cosmological structures in the very early Universe

[wolram]

https://phys.org/news/2017-01-cosmologists-closer-quantum-gravity.html

Researchers from the University of Portsmouth have revealed quantum imprints left on cosmological structures in the very early Universe and shed light on what we may expect from a full quantum theory of gravity.

Dr Vincent Vennin, from the Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation said: "We haven't solved quantum gravity but we've learned a little more about how it would work.

"Physicists do not yet know how to combine theories of gravity and the quantum world. Yet both play a crucial role in the very early Universe where the expansion of space is driven by gravity and cosmological structures that arise from quantum fluctuations.

"Quantum fluctuations during inflation are thought to be the origin of all structure in the Universe. Structures we see today such as galaxies, stars, planets and people can be traced back to these primordial fluctuations."

The paper is co-authored by Professor David Wands and Dr Hooshyar Assadullahi. It was published today in the Physical Review Letters.
Read more at: https://phys.org/news/2017-01-cosmologists-closer-quantum-gravity.html#jCp

 

[Evalesco]

This is a really exciting development! I'm amazed at how researchers have been able to find quantum imprints in cosmological structures in the early universe and learn more about how a quantum theory of gravity would work. It's incredible that the primordial fluctuations from inflation are thought to be responsible for all the structure we observe in the universe today. It's amazing that our current understanding of physics can help us answer questions about the early universe.